The Library of Congress explained why it hosted an event for the investiture of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson but did not appear to hold any events celebrating the installations of Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, or Amy Coney Barrett.
The Library of Congress is set to honor the investiture of jackson to the Supreme Court on Friday in a massive event featuring both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside their spouses.
In addition to the president and vice president being in attendance, the celebration features performances by several musicians and groups, including the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Quartet and civil rights movement Freedom Singer Rutha Mae Harris.
BIDEN, HARRIS JOIN KETANJI BROWN JACKSON AT INVESTITURE CEREMONY AHEAD OF JUSTICE’S FIRST TERM
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 8, 2022, celebrating the confirmation of Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
However, as big as the celebration for Jackson will be, the Library of Congress does not appear to have held any sort of similar events for the three Supreme Court justices confirmed under former President Trump.
Caitlin Sutherland, executive director at Americans for Public Trust, called the celebration a “disturbing display of partisanship and favoritism” by the Library of Congress.
“This is a disturbing display of partisanship and favoritism by a government agency, when no comparable events were held for the three previous Supreme Court Justices,” Anderson said.
“No gala for Gorsuch, no concert for Kavanaugh, no bash for Barrett,” she continued. “The Library of Congress has some explaining to do.”
The Library of Congress does not appear to have held any similar events for the investiture of Justices Amy Coney Barrett (pictured), Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
(AP)
Bill Ryan, a spokesperson for the Library of Congress, told Fox News Digital it has been their “pleasure to host a variety of public and private events with the Supreme Court in connection with many different justices over the years (Justices Roberts, Ginsburg, Gorsuch and Sotomayor among the most recent).”
“Just last year, we were delighted to host Justice Gorsuch and his staff for a lengthy private tour of the Library and a display of rare documents curated to reflect the Justice’s particular interests,” Ryan said. “As an organization that works closely with the Supreme Court (having both the Law Library and the private papers of many former justices) we are always eager to maintain a collegial relationship with our institutional neighbors across the street.”
“With respect to this particular event, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked through the offices of the Supreme Court if her post-investiture celebration could be held at the Library,” he continued. “Given our close working relationship with the Supreme Court, we are happy to accommodate the request. It is a private event and is privately funded.”
Ryan also said he does not “recall any other Justices having made a similar request before” but noted that Barrett had a celebration at the White House following her investiture.
The court held the ceremony behind closed doors. Jackson descended the front steps of the Supreme Court with Chief Justice John Roberts after the event.
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Jackson’s husband, Patrick Jackson, then greeted her at the bottom of the Supreme Court steps before the pair returned inside the court.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also attended the ceremony and emphasized the historical significance of the moment in remarks to reporters afterwards.
The Library of Congress recently hosted rapper Lizzo, where she twerked while playing the centuries-old crystal flute owned by President Madison.
Fox News Digital’s Tyler Olson contributed reporting.
